Vending machine



Jan. 13, 1931. 1 D. JENNINGS ET AL 1,788,523

VEND-ING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

Odell/@uzufqqs 54 62 C/mfilasfi Gill/1 07"6 ma 6% r fiwgggbya Ha/@712 s Jan. l3, 1931. o. D. JENN lNGS ET AL VENDING MACHINE 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet s Filed-June 15,

Jan. 13, 1931. I I o. D. JENNINGS ETAL 1,788,523

' VENDING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 61 Jam/1 Jan. 13, 1931. o. D. JENNINGS ETAL 1 1,788,523

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Uta/M515. Gxllmona Jan. 13, 1931. o. D. JENNINGS ETAL 13 1 VENDING MACHINE Fi led June 16. 1928 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 N N OmfJJZ W Jan. 13, 1931. QDQJENNINGS ET-AL VENDING MACHINE 7 SheetS Sheet 7 Filed June 16. 1928- Ode J). JQ/m (/7 C/IaPQSJi Gilmore Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- ODE D. JENNINGS, OF IPALATINE, AND CHARLES B.

GILMORE, or 'cnxcaeo, rumors,

' ASSIGNORS '10 0. D. JENNINGS &; COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS VENDING MACHINE Application filed June 16, 1928. Serial No. 285,982.

This invention relates to vending m'a-I chines, and in its preferred and complete form hereinafter described consists of a combined Weighing scale and merchandise vendor.- Combined weighing and vending machines are broadly old and known, wherein the -weighing mechanisn'i is tripped into actlon, and the normally locked merchandise dispensing machanism is released, by the de- Our" present posit in the machine of a coin. invention relates to machines of this general character, but aims to increase the range and flexibility of such machines, among the objects had in view being, to provide a machine wherein the weighing mechanism and the dispensing mechanism may be operated independently, or in conjunction, upon the deposit of the proper coin; to provide a machine adapted to deliver merchandise, one parcel at a time, selectively from a plurality of containers until all of the containers are substantially emptied of their contents; to

provide a machine that will reject and return to the operator coins deposited when thedevice is" set to vend from any container that has become empty; to provide a device that may be adjusted to vend either one or a plurality of articles from a single container atone operation; to provide, in a multiple compartment machine, an improved selec tive mechanism that can be set to vend articles from one or aplurality of containersat one operation; and to provide a machine that cannot be clogged by the deposit therein of excess coins, and that will automatically re turn to the purchaser any excess coin or coins deposited.

Other and more specific objects and advantages 'of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art. as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which we have illustrated a practical and approved'embodiment of the invention, and wherein 4 Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation w1th the rear wall ofthe casing removed, showing the 1n-' "terior mechanism in rear elevation;

Fig. 3"isan enlarged vertical front to rear section, showing in'elevation, and partly in section, the lower portion of the coin chute, certain coin deflecting switches therein, and a portion of the coin-controlled dispensing mechanism; I

- Fi 4 is a rear elevation, in vertical sec-' tion through a side wall of the casing, of the parts shown 1n Fig. 3, viewed from the left of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a: vertical section through the; lower portion of the coin chute, on line 5-5 the coin-released locking mechanism 'per taining thereto;

Fig. 8 is a further enlarged view in ver-' tical section through one of the magazines and the article ejecting mechanism thereof,

also showing in part the articlev selecting mechanism; 1 i

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the lower portion of a substantially empty magazine, showing the article ejecting mechanism locked against actuation;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, of the lower ends of the magazines, their article ejecting devices, and the selective mechanism Fig. 11 is a sectional detail 'on a reduced scale on the line 1111 of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing the magazine partly filled, and the eject-- ing mechanism in package delivery position a F ig. 13 is a top plan view of Fig. 12, in horizontal section through the magazine;

Fig. 14 is a perspective detail of the ejector slide Y I a A v Fig. 15 is a perspective detail of a pivoted hook on the ejecter slide through which the latter is operatively connected to a reciproactuates the lever shown in Fig. 16 and is itself actuated by one of the cams of the selecting mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, designates as an entirety a generally upright rectangu' -lar case in which the parts of the' machine are housed; the same being provided with a hinged front door 11. equipped with a glass panel 12 covering the dial and pointer of the scale, panels 13 and 14 adapted to contain directions for operating the machine, and a lower glass panel 15 through which are visible contents of the magazines and sample packages displayed in front of each maga zine indicating the character of each package.

In the upper portion of the casing is mounted a weighin mechanism shown in Fig. 2, with the specific details of which the present invention is not concerned. Any

suitable or approved weighing mechanism may be employed, that herein shown being substantially identical with the weighing scale disclosed in Letters Patent to Barson No. 1,370,724, dated March 8, 1921. The pull rod 16 of the weighing mechanism is connected at its lower end to a platform 17, so that a weight on the latter actuates the scale. The scale mechanism is normally locked against movement, and-the locking mechanism is tripped to release position by a deposited coin. The locking mechanism comprises a star wheel 18 fast on the shaft of the scale pointer, and a pivoted lever 19 carrying a stop pin 20 normally engaged with the teeth of the star wheel. One end of the lever 19 is connected by a link rod 21 to a lever 22 (Fig. 4) pivoted at 23 to a bracket arm 24 on the coin chute, hereinafter described, and the free end of lever 22 is provided with a bent end 25 extending b rough a slot 26 in the side wall of the chute so as to be struck by a coin falling through the'chute to thereby trip the lever 19, disengage the star wheel 18, and allow the scale to be actuated. For a further description of the details of the scale mecha- I nism, reference may be had to the Barson turned front flanges, as clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 13, and adapted to contain a stack of similarly shaped articles such as magazines 29. To the under sides of the bars- 32 are secured strips 35 (Fig. 10) which, with the overlying plates 33, form slideways for an ejector late 36, this latter being shown in isolated detail in Fig. 14, and consisting of a rectangular plate formed on substantially its rear half with upstanding parallel rails 37 that, as shown inFig. 12, ride beneath the stack of packages when the lowermost package is pushed out, and support the stack until the ejector is retractedl Between the rails 37, the plate is cut out to provide clearance for certain selector-actuated devices hereinafter described, and on the under side of the plate are depending lugs 38 to which are pivoted the hinge lugs 39 (Fig. 15) of aconnector member by which the ejector plate is coupled to a transversely reciprocating bar through which the ejector plates of all the magazines are actuated. Thisconnector member is shown in isolated detail in Fig. 15 and comprises a flat plate 40 carrying the hinge. lugs 39 on its rear corners and formed at its free end with an upstandinghook 41, and on one edge with a laterally projecting lug 42. When the plate 40 is thrown up to working position by the mechanismhereinafter described, and is drawn rearwardly, the lug 42 rides up onto a horizontal track 43, as shown at the right during its package-ejecting-movement. On the under side of the plate 36 is a transverse rib 44 by which the plate is retracted after the lowermost packagehaszbeen ejected.

Referring now to the selector mechanism by which one or more packages may be simultaneously withdrawn from the same number of magazines, 45 designates a rock-shaft journaledin and extending between the side walls of the casing below the magazines and equipped on one end with a knob 46 for turning the same. Mounted on the shaft 45 as by set screws 47 permitting angular adjustment is a grou v of cams 48 corresponding in number to t e magazines and each serving to render operative the ejector mechanism of its magazine. Each cam 48 cooperates with a roller 49 mounted on and extending laterally of the lower end of a lever 50 shown in isolated detail in Fig. 17. Lever 50 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot screw 51 that Attached to the front side of the in Fig. 10, whereby the plate is supported is mounted in a depending extension 33 (Fig. 10) of one of the frame plates 33. Also mounted on the pivot screw 51 laterally adj acent to the lever is a connector actuating lever 52 shown in isolated detail in Fig. 16. The forward end of lever 50 is connected by a pull spring 53 (Fig. 12) to a pin 54 on the lever 52. ()n the upper edge of the lower portion of lever 52 is an upstanding lug 55 that, when lever 52 is swung by the pull of spring 53 created bythe actuation of the lever 50 by the cam 48, swings the lower limb of said lever 52 upwardly from the position shown in Fig.

9, causing the lug 55 to strike and raise the ejector coupling member 40 to the position shown in Fig. 8, thereby coupling up the ejector mechanism.

Extending from side to side of the machine is an ejector bar 56 that underlies the ejector plates 36 of the several magazines and is slidably supported in depending slotted plates 57' that carry the tracks 43. The ends of the ejector bar are pivoted to 'links57 (Figs. 2 and 7), and the other ends of the links 57 are pivoted to the lower ends of a pair of arms 58 that at their upper ends are keyed to a rockshaft 59 extending between opposite side walls of the casing in rear of themagazines 29. As shown in Fig. 7 the arm=58 on one side constitutes one arm of a bell crank lever, the other arm of which is shown'at 60. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, extending through one of the side walls of the casing and journaled in an inner bearing boss'61 on a plate 62 and an outer escutcheonplate 63 is a short shaft 64 equipped on its outer end with an actuating handle 65. Fast on the inner end of shaft 64 is a short arm 66, on the free end of which is mounted by a pivot pin 67 a U- shaped yoke 68. "The arms of the yoke 68 are connected by a pair of pull springs 69 to a cross-head 70 on the upper end of a vertically slidable push bar 71, and the upper end of push bar 71 is suspended by a pull spring 72 from an anchor pin 73 in the side-wall of the casing. The push bar 71 is provided with a vertical slot 74 (Fig. 3) through which the pivot pin 67 plays. Pivoted in a boss 75 on the plate 62 is an elbow lever, the upper arm 76 of which carries a roller 77 (Fig. 3) that is normally engagedby a horizontal shoulder 78 formed on the push bar 71 near its low end. The depending arm 79 of the elbow lever is connected by a link 80 (Fig. 7) to the upwardly extending arm 81 of .a three-arm lever that is keyed on a short rock-shaft 82, journaled in a side wall of the casing, T

short depending arm 83 of the three-arm lever is pivoted at 84 a link 85, the lower end of which is pivoted at 86 to the elbow lever 7 arm 60. When the actuating arm 65 is oper- ,ated, the push bar 71 is forced downwardly,

the elbow lever 7 6, 79 is rocked, and through the connections therefrom to the ejector bar 56 the latter is given a package-ejecting arm 92 of the three-arm lever. At the same time the pull of the spring 89 restores the elbow lever-76, 79 to the normal position shown in Fig. 3, and the pull of the spring '72 restores the operating lever'65 and the parts between said lever and the bell-crank so 76, 79 to operative position. By reference to Figs. 3 and 7 it will be observed that the plate 88 is pivoted at 88, and the position of the push bar throw-oft pin 87 can be'adjusted by shifting the plate 88 angularly on its pivot to the extent permitted by a slot 88 therein and a locking screw 87', so thatthe length of stroke of the ejector bar 56 can be nicely adjusted to the extent necessary to insure the withdrawal ofa package from the magazine to correct position over the package discharge chute. By reason of the springs 69 Y and the slot 7 4, the actuating lever 65 can be operated idly to a limited extent when the ejector actuating mechanism is locked without danger of straining or injuring the actuating mechanism. The lever arm 81 (Fig. 7)

has a device for preventing a partial stroke, and necessitating a full stroke, of the ejector actuating mechanism, the same consisting of a rack 93 on the upper edge of the arm 81- and a pivoted double-acting dog 94 controlled by a spring 95 cooperating with the rack 93. This device for insuring a full stroke is old and well known and no claim thereto'is made herein. O n the plate 62 are stops 81' limiting the throw of lever arm 81.

In association with the package eject-or actuating mechanism last described, there is employed an interference mechanism normally lockingthe ejector actuating mechanism against working movement. Referring to Fig. 7, pivoted on a stud 96 on the plate 62 is an interference member or stop 97 normally lying across the path of swing'of the.

pivoted at 101 to a side wall of the casing and sat its free end carries a pin 102 that underlies a disc103fa'st on the selector shaft 45 (Figs. 7 and 10). In the periphery of the disc 103 are notches 104 corresponding in number to the magazines. The lever normally tends to swing upwardly under the pull of a light spring 105, but this movement is normally prevented by an arm 106 secured to the bar 99 and underlying a pin 107 on the lever arm 92,

which latter is drawn downwardly by the spring 89, and the pull of the spring 89 is stronger than the pull of the spring 105. As the lever arm 92 starts to swing upwardly in the operation of the ejector actuating mechanism, its downward thrust on the arm 106 is relieved, and the spring 105 thereupon raises the lever 100. If the selector mechanism has been properly set, the pin 102 will enter one of the notches 104, and this is accompanied by an upward movement of the bar 99 sufficient to swing the stop 97 out of the way of the arm 92. At the same time the engagement of the pin 102 with the disc 103 locks the selector mechanism in the set position during the manipulation of the device. If

the selector mechanism has not been turned a suflicient distance to couple the e ector slide of one or more of the magazines to the ejector slide bar 56, the stop 97 will not be swung sufiiciently to clear the arm 92, and hence the mechanism is locked against actuation whenpivoted stud 109 mounted in the plate 62. A

coin, indicated at C in Figs. 4: and 5 deposited in the chute section 108 is arrested at. a point opposite a longitudinal slot 110 in the chute by the inner edge of a shoe 111 on the lower end of a rod 112 suspended from the stud 109 the shoe 111. projecting through a notch 113 in the edge of the'chute section sufficiently to arrestingly engage the edge of the com Below the chute section 108 is a delivery cozn chute section 114 that extends downwardly to a coin receptacle (not shown) in the bottom of the casing. Keyed on the rock-shaft 82 is a coin ejector consistingo f an arm 115 formed-011 one edge thereof with a laterally offset coin-engaging finger 116 registering with the slot 110 and above the latter with a shorter finger 117. A pull spring 115 connects ejector arm 115 with the pivoted chute section 108 to insure return of the latter on the back swing of the ejector arm.

011 one edge of the pivoted chute section 108, at the lower end thereof, 1s a laterally projecting'stop .118 (Fig. 4) wh1ch, as best shown in Fig. 7, in the-normal position of the chute section 108 lies directly over the upper end of -an upstanding finger 119 mounted on an arm 120. This arm 120 is Divoted at 121 to the plate 62 and at its free end overlies and rests upon the laterally bent end 106' (Figs. 4 and 7 of the arm 106.

When a coin has been deposited and the ejector actuating mechanism is operated. the shaft 82 is rocked as previously described and the coin ejector 115 through its finger 116strikes the coin and, through the latter, shifts the chute section 108 first to .the full line and then to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5. During this shifting movement the stop 118 on the lower end of the chute is carried out of the path of the finger 119, so that the A arm 106 is no longer blocked against rising by the stop 118, finger 119 and arm 120,.and consequently the spring 105 swings the stop 97 clear of the path of the lever'arm 92, per-- mitti'ng a full stroke of the ejector actuating mechanism. If, on the other hand-,it be-attempted to operate the ejector actuating, mechanism without any coin, the chute section 108 will .not be shifted and the arm 106 and bar 99 can riseonly until the finger 119 ated means for coupling the ejector plate 36 of that magazine to the ejector bar 56 is rendered inoperative. Describing this mechanism, it will first be noted that the levers 50 and 52, which are connected above their common pivot 51 by the pull spring 53, are maintained in a state of balance relatively to each other by a lateral lug 50 on'the upper edge of lever 50 overlying the upper edge of lever 52 below the pivot 51. Pivoted at 122 (Figs. 8, 9 and 12) to, a lug on one of the walls 34 is a dog 123 carrying a lateral vpin 124 that cooperates with a hook 125 formed on one side of the lever 52. The pin 124,is normally held disengaged from the hook, as shown in Figs.

8 and 12, by the engagement of a tail 126 of the dog with the adjacent edge of the stack of packages P; and on top of the stack of packages is a block 127 formed in one vertical face thereof with'a groove or channel 128 in line with the tail 126 of the dog. When but a single package remains in the magazine, as shown in Fig. 9, the tail 126 of the dog drops into the groove 128, and this permits the pin 124 to engage the hook 125, which locks the coupler actuating lever 52 against operative movement, so that if the selector cam 48 pertaining to the eihausted magazine raises the lever 50, the only effect is to stretch the spring 53.

When the selector cam 48 pertaining to anyone of the magazines has been shifted out of engagement with the lever 50, the levers 50 and 52 are restored tonormal position wherein the coupler plate 40 is lowered out of engagement with the ejector bar 56 by the following described mechanism. Pivoted in and extending between the opposite side walls of is connected a the casing in rear of and slightly below the magazines is a rock-shaft 129 (Fig. 10) keyed on which are a pair of upstanding arms 130 that are connected by a bar 131. This bar 131, as is shpwn in Figs. 9 and 12, lies directly behind and across the upstanding arms of the several levers 52. One of the arms 130 has an upward extension 130 the upper end of which, as shown in Fig. 7, is connected by a link 1332 to the lower arm 133 of a bell-crank lever pivoted at 134 to a side wall of the casing. The otherarm'135 of the bell crank is pivoted to an upwardly extending llnk bar 136 guided for vertical movement on studs 137, and to the upper end of the link bar 136 pull spring 138 (Fig. 3) anchored at 139 to a side wall of the casing. The spring 138 thus normally acts, through the described connections to the bar 131,'to shift the levers 52 to the coupling release position shown in Figs. 9 and 12; and when any cam/48 has passed by its lever 50, the spring 53 restores the lever 50 to a be again engaged by the cam. As the ejector bar 56 is actuated to'eject the lowermost package, as shown in Fig. 12, the release of the coupling member is pos1t1vely 1nsured during the working stroke of the e ector slide by means of a pin 140 in the lever arm 58 extending through a slot 141 in the link 132,-which causes the bar 131 to shift lever 52 in a direction to drop away from the coupling member 40.

Referring next to the coin chute structure and the devices associated therewith by which, on the deposit of a coin, the scale only is actuated to show the weight, or the package ejector alone is unlocked to deliver a package, or both the weight and a. package may be delivered by a single coin, and by whlch also spurious slugs are rejected, clogging of the chute bythe deposit of a second coin before a the first has been disposed of is prevented,

and a coin deposited when a selected magazine is empty is returned, 142 (Fig. 1') designates the coin slot in the upper end of the door 11 that registers with the upper end of a vertical chute section 143 (Fig. 2). The lower end of the chute section 143, when the door 1s closed, registers with the upper end of a short vertical chute section 144 (Figs 3 and I 4) the lower end portion of which is widened and divided centrally by a short vertical par: tition 145 to provide two coin passages one of which. indicated by 146, is vertically alined with the upper portion of the chute 144,.and the other of which; indicated bv 147, is laterally oifset. The lower'end of the passage 146 registers with a laterally offset branch or by-pass chute section 148, and the lower end of the passage 147 registers with a chute section 149 directly above the pivoted ch ute section 108. Directly below and registering with the by-pass section 148 is an upstandlng position passageway give either the weight by-pass branch 150 of'the coin chute section 114.

In a wall of the chute section 144 is located The slot'26'through ,Whichthe scale trip 25 operates is located in sageway 146.

Pivoted at 154 to a side wall of the passagea side wall of the pasway 146 is a'coin switch 155 playing through an oblique slot 156 in the upper junction of the passageways-146and 147. This switch is connected below its pivot by a link 157 to one arm of a lever 158 oted at 159'on a bracket terweight 158 on the left of the pivot 159, viewing Fig. 2, slight 1y overbalance the parts on the right of the pivot, so that, when the lever 158 is free, the switch 155 is out of the chute and inoperative. In the normal idle position of the weighing mechanism. however, the switch'is held in working position in the chute by a pin 161 on the drum 161 of the weighing mechanism, so that, if a customer desires only a package, and not his weight, and drops a coin without, standing on the platform 17, the coin is deflected by switch155 into the 147, and the weight trip 25 is not operated. By reference to the Barson Patent N 0. 1,370,724 above referred to, which discloses in full the weighing mechanism herein indicated, it willbe found that a weight on the scale platform initially rotates the drum 161 clockwise and this tensions a' spring which later rotates the arbor of the scale pointer when the star wheel 18 is released. Therefore, if a customer wishes to ascertain his weight, he steps onthe scale platform, which retracts the pin'161 from the lever 158 and allows the switch 155 to 160 and has a counswing out of the chute, whereupon the coin drops vertically through the passageway 146 andoperates the scale trip 25.

Pivoted at the tions 148 and 149 is another coin switch 162 (Fig. 3) equipped with an external switchwhen a customer stands on the platform and deposits the proper coin, the machine will With the switch 162 position indicated in Figs. 2 and a package of goods. set in the 4, the coin, after tripping the scale mecha-j nism, will be deflected into the chute section 149. With the switch set in the other position, however, the coin will be deflected into the branch chute section 148 and thence will I pass directly to the coin receptacle.

Pivoted at 164 to aside wall of the chute section149 is a depending coin-defiectingfl alone or the weight and (Fig. 2) that is pivon its other arm. The parts junction of the chute ,sec I and the pull of deflecting switch 7 nected to the latter.

guard switch 165 laying through an oblique slot 166 in said si e wall, and normally held out of the chute section 14.9 by a bent finger 167 extending upwardly from the upper end of the pivoted chute section 108 and abutting against a lateral-lug 168 on the switch. As

the pivoted chute section 108 is swung to coin discharging position, as shown in Fig. 5, the finger 167 backs away from the switch, and the latter is drawn into the chute by gravity a light spring 169 connecting the finger and the switch, so that, if a second coin should be deposited before the first coin has been disposed of and the chute section 108 returned to normal position, such second coin will be returnedto the coin return receptacle through a branch chute 170 that registers above the guard switch 165. j v

The machine also includes another coinand branch chute, by. which clogging of the chute section 108 by a second coin deposited before the first coin is disposed of is prevented, and by which also, if the selector is set to operate an empty magazine, a coin subsequently deposited is returned. This latter switch is shown at 171 pivoted at 172 to a side wall of the pivoted "chute section 108 and playing through an oblique slot 17 3 in said side wall. The switch 171 is equipped with a counterweight 174 which normally maintains the switch 171 out of the section 108, as shown in Fig. 3. The

switch is formed with a depending tail-piece 175 normally extending through the slot 110, as shown in Fig. 3 and formed with a notch 17 5 at its lower end. The momentum of the coin dropping through the cams the tail-piece 17 5 outwardly, as shown in Fig. 5. throwing the switch 171 into the chute, and the upper edge of the coin in the arrested position of the latter registers wi= h the notch 17 5'. Consequently, if a second eoin'should be deposited after the and before the machine is operated, it is deflected by the switch 171 into a branch chute 176 that registers with the chute section 108 just above the switch 171 and passes thence tothe return coin receptacle. 1,

As above stated, the switch 171 also functions to return a coin deposited when the selector has been magazine. Referring to Fig. 9, which shows an empty magazine, 'it will be observed that the lever 52 has been locked. against movement by the pin 124 and hook 125. selector cam does not, through the lever 52 shift the bar 131 and the actuating parts con- Hence, the spring 138 (Fig. 3) at such time exerts a lifting action on bar 136. On the upper end of bar 136 is an arm 177 that normally underlies a laterally bent portion of the valve counterweight 174 (Fig. 4) and, when the selector is set to operate an empty receptacle, exerts a lifting with the chute section 149 just chute section 108 first coin are visible through the set to operate an empty mechanism, the word so that the action on the counterweight andthrows the switch 171 into the'chute. -When, however, the selector is set to operate a receptacle that is not empty, as shown in Fig. 8, the bar 131 1s shifted to draw the bar 136 downwardly, thereby allowing. the switch 171 r to swing out of the chute section under the gravity effect of the counterweight 174. Hence, so long as all of the receptacles are full or partly full, the switch 171 is idle except when the machine is operating. to deliver a package and dispose of a deposited coin. But whenever the selector is set to operate an empty magazine, or if the selector should be turned to an intermediate position whereinit will not set the ejector mechanism of any magazine, the switch position by the lifter arm 177. The stopping of the selector at an intermediate position, however, is guarded against, in the machine shown, by a leaf spring 178 depending from a bracket 1 9 and engaging the polygonal periphery of a nut 180 fast on the selector shaft 45, and the nut 180 having as many fiat faces as there are magazines. Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, we have shown on the skeleton ejector slide frame a crossbar 181 to which is secured as by screws 182 a sheet-metal tongue 183 formed on its free end with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined hook-183'- which slides over the top of thepackage as it is pushed out from be.-' neath the stack by the ejector slide and drops behind the package and prevents the latter from returning with the slide, thus insuring the dropping of thepackage into the package delivery chute 184.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 12, attached to the rear side of the front door 11 is a rectangular sheet-metal strip 185 that lies across the front walls of the magazines 29, the vertical wall of said strip having attached thereto supports .186 to hold sample packages P of the goods in the several magazines respectively, that window 15. The horizontal wall of this strip 185 has sight slots 187 overlying the upper ends of the several levers 52; and by reference to Fig. 16 itwill be observed that the upper end of each lever carries a plate 188, across one portion of which is printed the word Vend. In the normal idle position of the package ejecting Vend is concealed, as illustrated in Fig. 9. When, however, the ejector coupling mechanism is actuated by one of'the selector cams. as shown in Fig. "8, the plate 188 is shifted tobring the word Vend directly below the slot 187, so that it is visible through the latter. By this device, the user of the machine can tell at a glance whether or not the particular magazine to which he has set the selector mechanism is charged or empty, because if it is empty, as shown in Fig. 9, the word Vend 171 is swung into working Figs. 10 and 11) on the indicating plate 188 will not be shifted lnto register with the sight opening 187.

The manner in which the machine operates has, to a considerable extent, been -already indicated in connection'with the description of its various parts, but the operation as a whole may be briefly summarized as follows. If the manually set switch 162 is placed in the position indicated in the diagrammatic view Fig. 6, the machine functions as a weighing machine. The Weight of a customer on the'platform 17 rotates the drum 161 (Fig. 2) in the direction of the arrow, and this releases the lever 158 and permits the switch 155 to swing out of the chute. The customer then deposits a coin in the mouth 142 of the coin chute, and the coin, striking the trip 25, releases the lock of the weighing mechanism, the pointer of which latter then swings to the scale position showing the weight on the platform. When the customer step-s off the plat -v form, the scale mechanism is restored to its normal idle position by the return spring marked S in Fig. 2, and the pin 161 acts through lever 158 and link 157 to return the switch 155 to its normal position in the chute.

If the manual switch 162be set to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, then the machine will function to delivera package of goods alone, or a'package of goods and the weight of the customer, depending upon whether or not the customer stands on the weighing platform. Assuming that the customer desires bothhis weight and a package of goods, he first sets the selector mechanism so as to prime the dispensing mechanism of the particular magazine containing the article de.

sired. This is done by turning the knob 46 in a clockwise direction until the word Vend appears through the opening 187 of the selectedmagazine. He then stands on the weighing platform, which retracts the switch 155, and the deposited coin then falls through the passageway 146,tripping the weighing mechanism, and, striking the switch 162, is

deflected into and through the left hand .lowerchute section, viewing Figs. 2 and 4.

The guard switch 165 is normally out of the way, as shown in- Fig. 3, so that the coin falls into; the pivoted chute section 108. The guard switch 171 of the pivoted chute section is at this time but of the way. so that the coin drops to the position shownin'Fig. 5 where it is arrested by the. stop 111.- During the final port-ion of its fall the coin cams the tail-piece 175 ofthe' valve .171 outwardly,

thus throwing the guard switch 171 into operative position,.a-s appears in Fig. 5. The

customer then presses down on the handle 65,

and this, through the described mechanism turns the rock-shaft 82, causing the ejector finger 116, through a thrust movement on the arrested coin C, to swing the chute section 108 from the position shown in Fig. 3, through the full line position shown in Fig.

5, to the dotted line position shown in the latter figure. As the chute section 108 is thus swung, the stop 118 on its lower end is carried out of the path of the finger 119 (F '7), which permits the arm 120 to rise, and at.

, at the same time locks the selector mechanismin the set position by causing the pin 102 to enter one of the notches of the selector disc 103. During the coin delivery movement of the chute section 108,"'the finger 167 on the upper end of the pivoted chute section backs away from the arm of the valve 165 and the pull spring 169 draws said valve into and 1 across the lower end of the fixed chute sec- 'tion, a's shown in Fig. Also, during this swinging movement of the pivoted chute section 108, the short finger 117 on the upper end of ejector arm 115 strikes and wipes over the rear side of the pivoted chute section pushing the latter and the coin away from the lower finger 116, so that the coin is free to drop into -the lower fixed'section 114 of the chute which conveys the coin to a coin receiver (not shown) beneath. As the coin is thus being disposed of, the same movement of the'rockshaft 82, through the lever and link connections shown .in Fig. 7, imnarts'a working stroke to the ejector bar 56, and, the latter having been coupled to the ejector slide by the selector mechanism, the package is delivered, andupon release of the handle 65, the springs 89 and 72 automatically restore the operating parts to normal position.

If the customer desires only a package of goods, and not his weight, he deposits the coin without standing on the platform l7 and manipulates the machine as above described. In this case, the coin is deflected by the switch 155 down through the passageway 147 of the left handlower chute section thus by-passing "the scale trip 25, and the switch 162 insures the V end indicator is locked, as shown in Fig.

. 9,.so that it will not display the word Vend through the sight opening 187 but if. in spiteof this warning, the customer deposits his coin, the coin will be returned to him by reason of the fact that in this condition of the magazine, the spring 138 (Fig. 3) has functioned to lift the arm 177, and, through the arm 1740f the coin deflecting valve 171. has swung thelatter valve into the pivoted chute section so that the coin is returned through branch 176. i i

A machine built as herein shown .and described has been found by repeated tests to function satisfactorily in the several ways describedybut it is manifest that the details of structure and or anization herein set forth might be considerably varied withoutinvolv-- ing any departure from the operative principles or sacrificing any of the advantages of the machine; and hence, we do not limit the invention to thespecific forms illustrated and described, but reserve such variations, modifications and mechanical equivalents as fall within the spirit and purview of the claims.

,'We claim 1. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing, a plurality of magazines therein, an ejector slide individual to each magazine,

, a slide-actuating bar common to'all of the ejector slides, a normally inoperative couplin g member individual to each slide, a selector element mounted in said casing,- and means on-said element for moving any one or more of said coupling members to operative position.

2. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing, a plurality of magazines therein, an e ector slide individual to each magazine,

a slide-actuating bar common to all of the ejector slides, a coupling member pivoted on each slide and normally out of the path of said bar, a selector shaft journaled in said casing, cams disposed in varyingradial directions on said shaft, and means actuated by said cams for swinging said coupling mem-- bers into the path of said bar,

. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing, a magazine therein, an ejector slide beneath said magazine, a shde-actuatlng bar, a-normally inoperative coupling member for connecting said slide to said bar, manually operated means for moving said coupling member-to operative position, andmeans controlled by the articles in said magazine serving to render said manually operated means inoperative when the magazine is empty.

4. In a vending machine, the combination of acasing, a magazine therein, an ejector slide beneath said magazine, a slide-actuating bar, a coupling member pivoted. on said slide.

and normally out of the path of said bar, a

. lever for moving said coupling member into of acasi'ng, a magazine therein, an ejector slide beneath'said magazine, a slide-actuating bar, a coupling member pivoted to the under is empty.

side of said slide and normally depending out of the path of said bar, a lever for moving said coupling member into the path of said bar, means holding said coupling member engaged with said "bar during the working movement of said ejector slide, a secondlever, a. spring connecting said levers throu h which said first-named lever is actuated by said-second lever, manually operated means fox-actuating said second lever, and a pivoted .dog having a' tail-piece projecting into said an ejector slide individual to-each magazine,

a slide-actuating bar commoh to all of the.

ejector slides, a coupling member pivoted on each slide and normally out of the pathof said bar, a selector shaft journaled in said casing, cams disposed in varying radial directions on said shaft, means individual to each magazine actuated by said cams for swinging --said coupling members into the path of said bar, and means controlled by the articles in said magazines serving to render inoperative the coupling member actuating means of any magazine when said magazine 7. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing, a plurality of magazines therein, dispensin mechanism, including ejector slides individual to the several magazines, a coupling member on each slide normally disconnected from said dispensin mechanism, a. selector shaft journaled in sai casing, cams disposed in varying radial directions on said shaft, means individual to each magazine actuated by said cams for connecting said coupling members to said dispensing mechanism, and means automatically locking said selector shaft against turning during the'working stroke of said dispensing mechanism.

8. In a vending machine, the combination of, a casing, a plurality of magazines therein, an ejector slide individual to each magazine, a slide-actuating bar common to all of the ejector slides, a coupling member pivoted on 1' each slide and normally out of the path of said bar, a selector shaft journaled in said casing, cams disposed in varying radial directions on-said shaft, means individual to each magazine actuated by said cams for swingin said coupling members into the pathof sai bar, and means automatic'allylocking said selector shaft against turning during the working stroke of said slide-actuating bar.

9. In a vending machine, the combinaion of a casing, a plurality of magagfies therein,"

u e'ector dispensing mecham inc slides individual to the several magazines, a,.

coupling member on each slide normally 'disconnected from said dispensing mechanism,

a an ejector slide individual to each magazine,

a slide-actuating bar common to all of the ejectorslides, a coupling member pivoted on each slide and normally out of the path of said bar, a selector shaft journaled in said casing, cams-disposed in varying radial directions on said shaft, means individual to 'each magazine actuated by said cams for.'

swinging said coupling members into the path of said bar, means automatically locking said selector shaft against turning during the Working stroke of said slide-actuating bar, and means automatically releasing said selector shaft from said locking means during the idle return stroke of said slide-actuating bar. I

ll. Ina vending machine, the combination with a casing, a magazine therein, and an ejector slide beneath said magazine, of actuating means for said slide comprising mech-' anism Within said casing for imparting a Working stroke to said slide, a shiftable interference devicenormally blocking the functioning of sa'id'mechanism, a handle lever journal'ed' in a wall'of said casing, and an elastic operating connection between said handle lever and said slide-operating mechanism.

12. In a vending machine, the combination with. a casing, a magazine therein, and an ejector slide beneath said magazine, of actuating means for said slide comprislng a slidably mounted push bar, an ejector bat coupled to-said slide, operating connections between said push bar and said ejector bar, a

shiftable interference member normally blocking movement of said operating connections, a handle lever journaled in a Wall of said casing, a power transmitting spring connecting said handle lever to said push bar, and a spring for eiiecting return movement of said push bar.

13. In a vending machine, the combination with acasing, a magazine therein, and an ejector slide beneath said magazine, of actuating means for said slide comprising a slidably mounted push bar, an ejector bar coupled to said slide, lever and link 0perati1 g connections between the lower end of said push-bar and said ejector bar, a shiftable interference member normally blocking movement of said operating connections, a handle lever journaled in a Wall of said casing, a

power-transmitting spring connecting said handle lever to said push bar, means automatically disconnecting said push bar from said operating connections at the endof a Working stroke 10f said ejector slide, a spring foreffecting return movement of said push bar, and .a spring for effecting return movement of said operating connections.

14. In a vending machine, the combination with a plurality of magazines, a corresponding number of ejectors individual to said 'magazines, a common coin-controlled actuator for said ejectors, a separate selecting device manually operable at will, means operated thereby for selectively coupling said ejectors to said common actuator, and a stop devicefor preventing the operation of said actuator controlled by said selecting means.

15. In. a coin-controlled vending machine,

the combination of a plurality of magazines, a correspondingnumberofejectorsindividual to said magazines, an actuator and a manually operable selector element common to all of said ejectors, means actuated by said selector element for selectively coupling said ejectors 'to said common: actuator, a stop device for.

preventing the operation of said actuator controlled by said selector element, and coincontrolled means for also controlling said I stop device.

116; In a coin-controlled vending machine,

the combination of a plurality of magazines, ejectors individual to said magazines, a common ejector actuator, mechanism operable at Will for selectively coupling said ejectors to said common actuator, coin-controlled means for releasably locking said ejector actuator, and means under the joint control ofthe goods in said magazines and said selecting mechanism for disabling said coin-controlled means when an empty magazine is selected.

17. In a coin-controlled vending machine, the combination of a plurality of magazines, ejectors individual to said magazines, a common ejector actuator, mechanism operable at will for selectively coupling said ejectors to said common actuator, coin-controlled means for releasably locking said. ejector actuator, a coin-return device and means under the joint control of the articles ll'l-Eitld magazines and said selector mechanism for effecting the operation of said coin-return device Whenan empty magazine is selected.

18.: In a coin controlled vending machine, the combination of a plurality of magazines, ejectorsindividual to said magazines, a common ejector actuator, mechanism operative at will for selectively coupling said ejectors to said common actuator, and means associated with each magazine and under the joint control of the goods in the latter and said selective coupling mechanism for visually indicating a charged or empty condition of the magazine.

19. In a coin controlled vending machine, the combination of a plurality of magazines, each formed with a sight opening, ejectors individual to said magazines, a common ejector actuator, mechanism operative at will for selectively coupling said ejectors to said com--- mon actuator, and a movable member assoelated wlth each magazine and under the Joint control of the goods in the latter and said selective coupling mechanism, said movable member carrying a symbol indicative of the condition of the magazine movable into and out of register with said si ht opening.

ODE D. J E NINGS. CHARLES B. GILMORE. 

